Employee Spotlight: Leigh-Anne Barlow

11

Mar

Employee Spotlight: Leigh-Anne Barlow

What is the secret behind FMAV’s success throughout the years? Our people! They make us who we are today and who we will be in the future. As one of Canada’s largest audiovisual companies, FMAV has more than 250 staff across seven offices from coast to coast, and it’s our people who make us a different kind of Audiovisual Company.

Because our people make the difference, we thought we’d tell you more about them, and how they’ve helped us become a favorite in the events industry, in an Employee Spotlight series.

In this series, you’ll get a glimpse at one featured employee each month. We will talk about what makes them tick, why they come to work each day and what they look forward to doing in their free time?

This month we talked to Leigh Anne Barlow, FMAV rookie of the year winner, about her role, her passion for the events industry and her secret talents. Here’s what she had to say:

What is your current role and how long have you been working at FMAV?

My current role at FMAV is an audio-visual technician with a primary focus in video and camera switching and directing. I have worked at this dynamic company for one year, and am thrilled that FMAV has given the opportunity to learn from a team of experts and develop my skills. My goal each show is to work with others to develop a stunning and enticing visual atmosphere for clients and audiences, and to capture it through cameras.

Tell us about your start at FMAV?

Before working at FMAV, I was doing freelance camera, videography, and production work, as well as working as a teaching assistant in Seneca College’s Broadcast Television department. A colleague at Seneca thought that I would be a great fit for FMAV.

What made you want to get into the field?

Growing up, I was always excited to experience live sporting and music events either through being there myself, or through television. The idea that I could make a living by transferring the beauty, excitement, emotion, and narrative of an event to a larger audience, made me start on a path that has led me here. As a university student, I was involved in a lot of sporting and music events, and in the summers I would work as a production assistant on commercial sets. Over the years, I have continually expanded my skill-set and was able to explore many sides of media including film, documentary, and broadcast television. I am glad that I can transfer so much of what I have learned into my current role at FMAV.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy working with a very talented team of colleagues to produce amazing shows. Transforming a space into a place where people can experience captivating sights and sound is extremely rewarding. The top-tier audio, lighting, engineering, and staging expertise that goes into such productions makes me very grateful to work with the people at FMAV.

Tell us something about your personal life. What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?

In my spare time I am likely participating in water activities or being as deep in nature as possible. When I can’t get out of the city, I enjoy canoeing on the Humber River or cross country skiing in High Park to get my fix. I also play beach volleyball, a few musical instruments, and love spending time with my family and cats.

Leigh Anne Barlow is one of over 250 valued employees at FMAV. You can learn more about the FMAV culture on our website, or visit the FMAV Careers page to hear more from our people.